The Naked Magicians are more than meets the eye

The Naked Magicians are more than meets the eye

MIKE Tyler had the nickname "Magic Mike” long before Channing Tatum was stripping off on screen.

The Brisbane native, who was a promising swimmer and used to compete against Ian Thorpe, now lives out his own version of the racy film as one half of The Naked Magicians.

"I went by Magic Mike many years ago before the movies came out. I didn't promote myself as that, but it had that ring to it,” he says.

"When the movie was getting filmed, someone sent me the IMDB link to it.

"All I knew was Channing Tatum was in it and it would either be the best or worst thing for my career.”

Tyler met fellow magician Christopher Wayne, also from Brisbane, during a performance at the annual Riverfire event. Tyler had found success doing corporate shows while Wayne had starred in his own TV show More Than Magic.

"He asked me to do some magic for his group and I said 'You seem like a magician',” Tyler says.

"He said 'No, just a couple of card tricks'. So I did a few of my magician fooler-type tricks and he said 'Let's catch up for a coffee'.

"I said 'Yeah, what time?' and I pulled his watch out of my pocket that I'd pinched during the trick.

"We ended up becoming best friends. That's the reason this show really works, because of the on-stage energy and friendship between us two.”

After being asked to make their clothes disappear by a few keen audience members, the duo started thinking seriously about the idea of creating a naughty magic show.

"Our very first performance was on Valentine's Day in 2014. It was the most nerve-racking thing ever,” Tyler says.

"But it was also the most insane experience for us.

"The audience erupted in laughter and applause when we finally got naked. It was so good to be accepted, and now it's the best part of our day.”

After successful appearances at the Brisbane Comedy and Adelaide Fringe festivals, the show took off in popularity.

After an extensive Australian tour in 2015, they took the show overseas to the UK and US. Now Tyler and Wayne are back on home soil for their first tour in three years.

"We have had some really crazy nights. Alice Springs and Cairns stand out as two of the craziest from 2015, and Townsville was off the rails,” Tyler says.

"This show is really about two best mates who love magic but wanted to take magic to an audience that wouldn't normally attend a magic show.”

As one would expect, The Naked Magicians are popular with hens' nights and groups of single women.

But single men and couples also attend the 18-plus shows, which feature full-frontal nudity.

"We do start the show fully clothed,” Tyler says.

"We slowly get naked throughout the show.

"We want to make the audience work for it a little bit and get to know us before we do get naked. Early on, we decided we didn't just want to get our magic wands out early on because it would lose its effect.

"It's the ultimate misdirection. People are trying to see what's hiding beneath our hat and that allows us to get away with a bit more.”

Despite the show's clear branding, Tyler and Wayne have had a few walk-outs.

"When we were doing London's West End in 2016, we asked for a volunteer to dance around with a big inflatable penis one night and when that came out, this one guy gave us the finger and walked out,” he says. "He looked like a theatre person, so maybe someone bought him the tickets as a joke. Not too many people come to a show called The Naked Magicians and don't know what to expect.”

Fans who have already seen the duo can expect a fresh show.

"We're so much more polished than last time after we've been around the world,” Tyler says.

"There are more turns and twists than last time, but it's the same two funny fellas on stage getting naked and doing magic.

"Expect to be part of the show, but don't worry: we're the only ones who need to get naked.”

The Naked Magicians play The Events Centre Caloundra on May 11 and 12, plus The J Noosa on June 9.